Dock fender structure

ABSTRACT

A marine dock fender element having an elastomeric deflection body in connection with support plates at each end of the deflection body with deflection guide members associated with each support plate and the deflection body.

United States Patent [191 Kuus [ DOCK FENDER STRUCTURE [75] Inventor: Felix Kuus, Koekuk, Iowa [73] Assignee: Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago,

22 Filed: July 24,1972

21 Appl. No.: 274,351

[52] US. Cl 61/48, 114/219, 267/140, 267/153 [51] Int. Cl E02b 3/22, F16f 1/44 [58] Field of Search 68/48, 46; 114/219; 267/140, 141,153

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,677,017 7/1972 Shirvany 61/48 [111 3,803,853 [451 Apr. 16, 1974 12/1968 Kumazawa ..61/48 11/1970 Sampson ..61/48 Primary Examiner-Jacob Shapiro Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Donald W. Banner [5 7] ABSTRACT A marine dock fender element having an elastomeric deflection body in connection with support plates at each end of the deflection body with deflection guide members associated with each support plate and the deflection body. I

11 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures ,PAIENTEUAPR 161974 SHEET 2 [IF 3 PATENTEI] APR 16 I974 SHEEI 3 OF 3 DOCK FENDER STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to marine fender structures for piers or docks wherein the fender structure incorporates a movable member having attached thereto marine vessel rubbing members. The movable member is connected to the pier or dock through a deflectable energy absorbing fender unit.

The purpose of such fender structures is to cushion the impact of marine vessels such as ships, barges and the like when moving into contact with the dock, and to control the de-acceleration of such vessels without undue shock or undesirable bouncing of the vessel away from the dock.

Specifically, the present invention is embodied in an improved deflectable fender element or unit of the general type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,172,268 to Gensheimer, issued Mar. 9, 1965 and US. Pat. No. 3,677,017 to Shirvany, issued July 18, I972.

Fender structures, such as shown by Gensheimer, have been satisfactory as a practical matter and are presently used. There have been some disadvantages in their manufacture and use, such as large amounts of rubber being required in manufacture, the requirement for complex and correspondingly expensive molds used in manufacture, and subsequent separation of the support plates from the elastomer when subjected to severe usage. The invention of Shirvany serves to overcome such disadvantages to a significant degree.

THE INVENTION tomer is molecularly bonded to the surface of the guide member. The elastomer, above the guide member, being bonded thereto and to the support plate fonns in approximation a wedge-shaped body of elastomer which is restricted in its elastic movements and thus guides, the deflection of such member in a predetermined direction. If necessary or desirable holes and cavity can be formed in each guide member so that when filled with elastomer, they provide a physical locking of the elastomer to the end plates in addition to the molecular bonding as provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view taken l-l of FIG. 2 showing a marine fender structure which incorporates the deflectable fender element of this invention with dashed lines indicating such fenderstructure in deflected position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the fender structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view partly in longitudinal section, of one embodiment of the deflectable fender. element of this invention;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view taken at 44 of FIG. 3, partly in longitudinal section;

FIG. 5 is a transverse view taken at 55 of FIG. 4 of a support plate structure incorporated with the deflectable fender element;

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are respectively top, side and end views of a support plate and guide member of the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a plan view partly in longitudinal section, of a second embodiment of the deflectable fender element of this invention;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view taken at line 10-l0 of FIG. 9 partly in longitudinal section;

' FIG. 11 is a transverse view taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 10 showing a support plate structure incorporated with the deflectable fender element;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the support plate and guide member of the second embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the support plate and guide member of a third embodiment; and

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 4 indicating the wedge shaped body of elastomer which is restricted in its elastic movements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a pier or dock structure 10 with a fender structure 12 connected thereto by means of bolts, welding or the like, bolts 19 being shown as an example, Fender structure 12 includes movable members shown as vertical beams 14 which are pivoted through flexure or other means (not shown), so as to be movable toward pier 10 from an initial position, as shown, to other positions such as shown in dashed lines in FIG..1. I

Fender structure 12 incorporates horizontal supporting means, shown as beams 16, to which are connected rubbing members, shown as wooden timbers I8.

Fender 12 also incorporates deflection elements or bodies 20, which are shown to be connected to the beams 14 and to the pier 10 by means of bolts 19, as

previously described, and which serve to control the magnitude and the rate of movement'of the fender structure 12 toward and subsequently away from pier structure 10.

As is known and as described in the prior patents referenced above, it is desirable that a marine vessel approaching pier 10 be brought to rest adjacent to the pier with minimum impact, as may result from engagement of the vessel with the pier, to prevent damage to the hull of the vessel, the vessel's cargo and the pier. It is also desirable to reduce bouncing or rebound of the vessel away from the pier to a minimum. An elastomeric or resilient column which will resist initial compression through column action, then bend or buckle through further compression, has been found to be of substantial utility. By using such a column, the resistance to force is linearly progressive through the column action, as when a vessel initially moves against the fender structure 12, then it becomes relatively constant as the column subsequently bends and. the vessel and fender structure 12 move further toward the peir 10. At a position of fender structure 12 near pier 10, the column of fender unit 20 becomes fully deflected and further movement becomes substantially limited due to the increased forces necessary to compress the elastomeric mass of the fully deflected column. The return of the pier structure 12 to its initial position is regular and comparatively slow since the force which can be applied against the mass of the vessel by the column from its deflected posture is regular and of substantially less magnitude than applied by movement of the vessel toward the pier.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, deflection element or unit incorporates an elongated elastomeric deflection column or body 22 of relatively constant width and thickness through its length. Connected to each end of deflection body 22 are support structures and 25'. Another view of such support structure is shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to support structure 25, the structure incorporates a support plate 24 defining holes 21 about its outer perimeter for attachment as previously described. Support structure 25 also incorporates a deflection guide member 26 connected to support plate 24 as by being welded thereto if the member 26 is metal.

The deflection guide member 26 in this embodiment is a length of pipe or tubing with its ends tapered, as at 28, and illustrated in FIG. 5.

Radial fillets 32 and 34 are provided about the perimeter of deflection body 22 at the juncture of deflection body 22 with support plate 24 for the dual purposes of providing greater area of bonding of deflection body 22 with the surface of support plate 24 and also important, to reduce stress concentrations at the juncture of the perimeter of deflection body 22 and support plate 24 as would otherwise exist during flexure or bending of deflection body 22.

During manufacture of fender unit 20 the surfaces of support plate 24 and the deflection guide member 26, which will be in contact with the elastomer of deflection body 22 are treated to form a chemical or molecular bond between such surfaces and the elastomer when the components of fender unit 20 are molded and vulcanized together to form an integral structure. Such molding and molecular bonding are commonly known in the fabrication of machinery mounts and other rubber goods and need not be described herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12, there is illustrated a second embodiment of the invention wherein a deflection guide member 26A is illustrated as being an angle member welded or otherwise secured to the support plate 24. The remaining structure is the same and carries the same reference numbers. The ends are beveled, as at 28A, similar to the first embodiment.

FlG. 13, illustrates a third embodiment of the inventions wherein the deflection guide member 268 is a length of square tubing welded to support plate 24.

Other modifications may include deflection guide members of rectangular sectioned bar stock or guide members of an elastomeric material which is harder and not as flexible as the elastomer of the body 22. In the latter case, such member would be molecularly and physically bonded to the support plate whereas metallic members will be welded thereto.

In any case it is desirable to taper or round off the ends of the deflection guide members, similar to that as identified at 28 in FIGS. 3 to 5 to avoid stress concentrations which would shorten the useful life of the fender considerably.

FIG. 14 illustrates the effect of the member 26, 26A or 268 or like member in restricting a wedge shaped body of elastomer, identified at 30, which is restricted in its elastic movements. Such wedge shaped body directs the bending or buckling of deflection body with respect to the support plate and is important in causing the deflection body to move quickly from a column action in resisting longitudinal compressive stresses and to begin a bending action which decreases the rate of increase in compressive stress necessary to cause further bending and deflection of member 22.

Elastomer, as used in this description, includes natural and synthetic rubber like materials having suitable deformation, recovery, and bonding characteristics with minimum tendency for permanent set upon deformation. ln prototypes heretofore manufactured natural rubber has been found to be quite suitable, for example.

Having fully described several embodiments of the invention herein, it is understood that other embodiments could be provided and changes could be made in the construction thereof without departing from the spirit of the inventions as described.

I claim:

1. A deflectable fender unit suitable for use in a dock structure comprising:

a. an elongated deflection body of elastomeric material having generally uniform width and uniform thickness;

b. a first and second support plate affixed to each respective end of said deflection body;

c. an elongated deflection guide member attached to each support plate and extending into and attached to said elastomeric deflection body adjacent an edge thereof, said deflection guide members providing a wedge shaped mass of elastomeric material of said deflection body to determine the direction of buckling of said deflection body.

2. A deflection fender unit suitable for use in a dock fender structure comprising:

a. an elongated deflection body of elastomeric material having generally uniform width and uniform thickness;

b. a first and second support plate affixed to each respective end of said deflection body;

c. an elongated deflection guide member attached to each support plate and extending into and attached to said deflection body adjacent an edge thereof, said guide members extending in the direction of the width of said body, said deflection guide members providing a wedge shaped mass of elastomeric material to determine the direction of buckling of said deflection body.

3. A deflectable fender unit as in claim 2 in which the length of said deflection guide member at said support is larger than the length thereof spaced from said support.

4. A deflectable fender unit as recited in claim 3 wherein said guide members are pipes.

5. A deflectable fender unit as recited in claim 3 wherein said guide members are angle bars.

6. A deflectable fender unit as recited in claim 3 wherein said guide members are rectangular sectioned tubes.

7. A deflectable fender unit as recited in claim 3 wherein said guide members are rectangular sectioned bars.

8. A deflectable fender unit as recited in claim 3 wherein said guide members are round sectioned bars.

9. A deflectable fender unit as recited in claim 3 wherein said guide members are made of an elastomer I harder than that of said deflection body.

10. A deflectable fender unit as recited in claim 3 

1. A deflectable fender unit suitable for use in a dock structure comprising: a. an elongated deflection body of elastomeric material having generally uniform width and uniform thickness; b. a first and second support plate affixed to each respective end of said deflection body; c. an elongated deflection guide member attached to each support plate and extending into and attached to said elastomeric deflection body adjacent an edge thereof, said deflection guide members providing a wedge shaped mass of elastomeric material of said deflection body to determine the direction of buckling of saiD deflection body.
 2. A deflection fender unit suitable for use in a dock fender structure comprising: a. an elongated deflection body of elastomeric material having generally uniform width and uniform thickness; b. a first and second support plate affixed to each respective end of said deflection body; c. an elongated deflection guide member attached to each support plate and extending into and attached to said deflection body adjacent an edge thereof, said guide members extending in the direction of the width of said body, said deflection guide members providing a wedge shaped mass of elastomeric material to determine the direction of buckling of said deflection body.
 3. A deflectable fender unit as in claim 2 in which the length of said deflection guide member at said support is larger than the length thereof spaced from said support.
 4. A deflectable fender unit as recited in claim 3 wherein said guide members are pipes.
 5. A deflectable fender unit as recited in claim 3 wherein said guide members are angle bars.
 6. A deflectable fender unit as recited in claim 3 wherein said guide members are rectangular sectioned tubes.
 7. A deflectable fender unit as recited in claim 3 wherein said guide members are rectangular sectioned bars.
 8. A deflectable fender unit as recited in claim 3 wherein said guide members are round sectioned bars.
 9. A deflectable fender unit as recited in claim 3 wherein said guide members are made of an elastomer harder than that of said deflection body.
 10. A deflectable fender unit as recited in claim 3 wherein the terminal ends of said guide member are tapered.
 11. A deflectable fender unit as recited in claim 3 wherein the terminal ends of said guide member are rounded. 